The Virtuous Life – Day 200 – James 4:7-10 – Draw Near To God And He Will Draw Near To You – Growing As Disciples
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. James 4:7-10 (ESV)
Victory Over Evil
That is what you want. That is the life you would like to live. You would like to live a life that is pleasing to me. You would like to be able to resist temptation and stand against evil. You want to have victory over evil. Is everything that I have said about you true? Yes, I want everything that you have stated. How can I live such a life? You tell me. I was sure that you were going to say that. Then you are prepared to answer me. If that is true, it would only be because you have made me able to answer you. I’m listening. What do you have to say? Victory over evil will never come to me by my own efforts. I will never be able to overcome evil with my own strength. There is only one first and best step to securing victory over evil. That step is submitting myself to you. In taking that step toward you, I am taking a step away from evil. And it really isn’t just a step at all. It is fleeing evil as soon it approaches and running to you as fast as I can. Lingering around evil is the surest route to defeat. I must not hang around evil, its allure and enticement are too powerful for me, or anyone else, for that matter. So, immediately flee, I must. But that is only half the equation. Fleeing alone will never be enough. I must have somewhere safe to flee. It is to you I will flee. It is to you that I will submit myself. As I flee evil and run to you, the allure and enticement and power of evil over my life is broken. In your presence, you change my heart. In your presence, you transform my mind. In your presence, you guard and guide my life. That is true. That is what I will do for you.
I do want to say more. Go ahead, I’m listening. I will not only flee to you when evil is approaching. That is not all I want. That is not all I need. I want to live a life continually drawing near to you. I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. So, what will you do? Daily, I will draw near to you. Daily, I will confess my sins to you. Daily, I will humbly live my life with and for you. Then I know that you will help me to live the life you have called me to live. Then I will live a life that is pleasing to you. You are quite sure? Yes, I am quite sure. Yes, you are quite right. I will help you to love and follow and serve me with all that is within you. Thank you, Lord.
Lord, I know the first and only best step to victory over evil is to submit myself to you. That I will do as I resist evil. Day by day, I will humbly confess my sins to you as I draw near to you. Cleans me. Purify me. Help me to live the life you have called me to live. Amen
Key Question… How has submitting yourself to God removed the allure of evil from your heart and mind?
Living It Out… Submit yourself to God and draw near to Him so you will be able to resist temptation and stand against evil.
Seeing It Happen… Have faith that submitting yourself to God will make you able to resist temptation and stand against evil.
Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how day by day you are submitting yourself to God.
Prayer To Bless Others… May you submit yourself to God and resist the devil so that He will flee from you.
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